APS Colloquium

• When:  Tuesday, February 10, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.
• Where: APS Building 402, Auditorium
• Title: Using synchrotrons to improve the health of humans and the planet

Dr. Peter Kopittke is a Professor of Innovation in Soil Science at The University of Queensland, Australia. He has worked at synchrotron facilities for 16 years and has been fortunate to utilise a wide range of techniques, including imaging and computed tomography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (soft, tender, and hard), infrared microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence microscopy. He has published more than 250 papers in international journals, including 90 articles using synchrotron-based approaches. He is in the top 0.5% of scientists in his field globally based upon citations. 

Peter's research spans the areas of agricultural production, water chemistry, and environmental health. In addition to extensive work throughout Australia, he continues to work internationally to improve the livelihoods of some of the poorest people in the world through agricultural development, including in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and the Philippines.

View the slide for an abstract of the talk. 

Off-site visitors, please contact Anita Garcia (630-252-5305) to arrange for a gate pass.

Suggestions for other APS colloquium speakers and feedback should be directed to Esen E. Alp, Olaf J. Borkiewicz (Chair),  Louis Emery, Dillon D. Fong, Ross J. Harder, Martin Holt, Byeongdu Lee, Ann Marie March, Jessica L. McChesney (past chair), Karolina Michalska, and Venkat Srinivasan.